The Belgian state lottery has announced temporary changes to its guidelines to protect players and sales outlets from the spread of the corona virus.

In Belgium, lottery sales have dipped by 30 per cent. According to the new regulations, winners are now valid for 30 instead of 20 weeks. This is to enable winners to collect their winnings at a later date due to restrictions on freedom of movement. Prizes for a sum of €100,000 would previously have had to be picked up at the lottery headquarters in Brussels upon presentation of the winning ticket. According to the new guidelines, however, the lottery will contact the winner and the lottery employee will collect the ticket. Players can now also bet on ten draws in a row.

Lottery spokeswoman Joke Vermoere said: “We want to do everything we can to ensure that players don’t have to go to a newspaper store to cash in on their winnings during a health crisis. To support the holders of lottery acceptance points, the lottery now pays a commission for each ticket sold. Usually, a payment is only made from earnings of €100 per week. The invoicing of the winning tickets could also be postponed.”